Okay ladies. For a year and a half I have been noticing little symptoms popping up and becoming real issues for me. These are things that I either never experienced before, or were very mild. I’ve done some research, and I am pretty sure it is hypothyroidism. Here are my symptoms:

1. I’ve gained 35 pounds in the last year and a half. I have always been either underweight or at a low but healthy weight for my age and height. I have never struggled with weight gain, and only ever worked on toning and muscle building. I was born 2 months early and only weighed 2 pounds when I was born, so apart from surviving being a miracle, I have had issues with my immune system, I’ve always been short and skinny for my age, among other things. Without any big negative changes to my diet, exercise, or amount of sleep, I really don’t believe that gaining that much weight in such a short amount of time is typical for someone like me. I was taking a birth control that made me extremely moody, which I stopped about a year ago. At first I thought the weight gain was caused by the birth control (about 10 lbs), then I thought it was caused by not taking it anymore (25 lbs). People around me have noticed the weight gain and my muscle loss. My face is puffy, NONE of my pants fit anymore, I can’t wear my old coats because my arms are too flabby and have lost all muscle tone. I used to have “chicken legs” and “no butt” according to my siblings, but now I have stretch marks, big legs, and a bootie. Pants I bought in September that were roomie no longer fit me, so some of the weight gain has been rather sudden. It’s actually kind of scaring me. I haven’t changed my diet for the worse or lessened exercise. In fact, I am more active than before. I even did a “whole 30” diet where I cut out dairy, all grain, soy, and sugar for a month but didn’t see any huge results. I had NEVER dieted before except for medical allergy testing.

2. I am ALWAYS tired. Yes, I have a very emotionally, physically, and mentally taxing job and I’m always on my feet. I’ve always been on my feet for work. I never sit. I have only had fatigue problems when I’ve had an illness or when I’ve been depressed. I don’t have the energy to do the things I used to as far as staying awake or working on projects or reading at home. I’m just too tired to have interest. My hobbies are on the back burner.

3. I constantly have a headache (like every day) and at least once a week I get a migraine. Sometimes they are so bad that I vomit profusely or cannot get out of bed or have the lights on.

4. I have always had really clear, good skin. I only ever got the occasional tiny chin or nose pimple that went away after a few days. Now I have constant horrible, red, painful cystic acne. ALL OVER MY FACE. I have broken out all over my neck, chest, shoulders, and back, too. Never in Junior High or High School, people. Just in the last year and a half. It’s painful, embarrassing, and baffling. I have a good facial cleansing regimen. This kind of acne is not from uncleanliness or dirt. This is hormonal.

5. My hair is falling out in copious amounts. It’s all over the place. I keep having to unclog my shower drain. I hate brushing it because I lose more and more. I used to have THICK, THICK hair that would take two hours to curl. Now I can do it in 10-15 minutes. It was always soft and smooth, now it is brittle and breaks at the top so I have tiny hairs sticking up. It’s tangly and hard to brush out.

6. My hands and feet are ALWAYS cold. I’ve always been little and sensitive to cold, but now I am seriously intolerant. I am always bundling up and wearing fuzzy socks at home, even in the summer. I always want the heater up and my husband and family get confused.

7. (Sorry) I am constantly constipated. I have infrequent, painful bowel movements. I drink enough water and eat lots of fiber. This one has been happening for years. I’ve seen specialists and they have been confused and said it’s probably a form of irritable bowel.

8. This is another one that has been happening for years—my periods are HELL. Like curled up on the floor in agony, rocking and shaking in pain. I bleed through everything and constantly change pads/tampons and use both at the same time. I used to throw up from the pain and pass out. I get dizzy and such horrible cramps that I can’t get out of the fetal position. I took birth control specifically for this and it helped to regulate it a bit, but it turned me into a monster and I was very unhappy. My bad symptoms have been coming back over the past year.

9. Dry skin

10. Muscle pain

11. Joint pain

12. Back pain (I’ve had chronic back pain in the past but it’s gotten really bad)

I actually went to the doctor and they did a blood test. Waiting on the results. If they come back negative what should I do??